According to local reporters, he had officially reported on a drug-burning ceremony at the airport in Helmand’s capital on satuday morning, but was never seen after that.

Reportedly, Taliban denied any involvement in the killing.

According to the Chengu Committee official, the one-child policy rules were being made specific to quake victims.

FIFA’s executive board announced that it had imposed the ban in the wake of Iraqi government’s move to disband the country’s National Olympic Committee and all its national sport federations.

FIFA announced its decision ahead of this weekend’s world cup qualifying match against Australia. However FIFA said in a statement that they would agree to lift the ban if the Iraqi government overturned its decision and reinstate their National Olympic Committee and National Futbol Team and provide FIFA in writing, proof that these actions have been taken by 1400 GMT on May 29 midnight (Sydney time).

The International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Committee of Asia also threatened to suspend Iraq’s membership over the board’s dissolution, which the government announced last Tuesday. Suspension of Iraq by the IOC would bar its athletes from competing in the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China in August.

This comes as a rude shock to the ardent Iraqi fans who less than a year ago saw their team win the Asian Cup Final 1-0 against Saudi Arabia. Soccer is the number one sport in Iraq and has proved to be a unifying force as Iraqi soccer fans last summer, barring their sectarian differences poured into the street when the team won the Asia Cup. It is the only thing that offers joy and excitement to the people of Iraq, otherwise a war-torn country.

‘’The Iraqi people were killing each other and sports united them. This is an outrageous failure. We don’t have anything left but the air, and if the politicians were capable they would take that away.’’ Samir Sabeeh, 36, a Sunni Muslim and an ardent soccer fan.

‘’No water, no electricity and now no sports,’’ Omar Mohammed, 28, said as he prepared sandwiches at a shop in Adhamiyah. ‘’This is mass murder and deliberate execution.’’

The government action has received sharp criticism from Iraqi newspapers and television as well.

The chances of an agreement being reached appeared slim as Iraq Sports Minister, Jasem Mohammed Jaafar told Reuters on Sunday

“Iraq will not back down from a decision to dissolve the country’s Olympic Committee even if it leads to its soccer team being thrown out of the next World Cup competition. The government won’t pull back from its decision… for the sake of a football match”

“We have replied to them (FIFA) in a formal letter yesterday, telling them that the disbanding ... doesn’t cover the sports federations in which the soccer federation is included,”

Jaafar said.

Basam Ridha al Husseini, an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, said the government would not reverse its decision and accused former committee members of corruption. He called FIFA’s decision

‘’wrong’’

as it is an internal issue.

Any suspension would destroy Iraq’s dream of competing at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Iraq were due to play Australia in a qualifier in Brisbane on Sunday then again in Dubai next week and any cancellation would increase Australia’s chances of making it through to the next stage of qualifying but the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) would lose about A$3 million ($2.88 million) in ticket sales and sponsorship.

The Iraq team were in Thailand preparing to leave for Australia when FIFA announced the decision. Iraq coach Adnan Hamad told Reuters in Bangkok “The decision is a big shock for the players. They are depressed,”

The Iraqi team provided their war-torn homeland with a rare moment of celebration in 2007 when they won the Asian Cup in one of sport’s great modern fairytales.

“They believe this team is the only thing that can bring the country together,” Hamad, a fan said.

via: Yahoo

FIFA’s executive board announced that it had imposed the ban in the wake of Iraqi government’s move to disband the country\’s National Olympic Committee and all its national sport federations.

FIFA announced its decision ahead of this weekend’s world cup qualifying match against Australia. However FIFA said in a statement that they would agree to lift the ban if the Iraqi government overturned its decision and reinstate their National Olympic Committee and National Futbol Team and provide FIFA in writing, proof that these actions have been taken by 1400 GMT on May 29 midnight (Sydney time).

The International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Committee of Asia also threatened to suspend Iraq\’s membership over the board\’s dissolution, which the government announced last Tuesday. Suspension of Iraq by the IOC would bar its athletes from competing in the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China in August.

This comes as a rude shock to the ardent Iraqi fans who less than a year ago saw their team win the Asian Cup Final 1-0 against Saudi Arabia. Soccer is the number one sport in Iraq and has proved to be a unifying force as Iraqi soccer fans last summer, barring their sectarian differences poured into the street when the team won the Asia Cup. It is the only thing that offers joy and excitement to the people of Iraq, otherwise a war-torn country.

\’The Iraqi people were killing each other and sports united them. This is an outrageous failure. We don\’t have anything left but the air, and if the politicians were capable they would take that away\’ Samir Sabeeh, 36, a Sunni Muslim and an ardent soccer fan.

\’No water, no electricity and now no sports,\’ Omar Mohammed, 28, said as he prepared sandwiches at a shop in Adhamiyah. \’This is mass murder and deliberate execution.\’

The government action has received sharp criticism from Iraqi newspapers and television as well.

The chances of an agreement being reached appeared slim when Iraq Sports Minister Jasem Mohammed Jaafar told Reuters on Sunday

\”Iraq will not back down from a decision to dissolve the country\’s Olympic Committee even if it leads to its soccer team being thrown out of the next World Cup competition. The government won’t pull back from its decision… for the sake of a football match”

\”We have replied to them (FIFA) in a formal letter yesterday, telling them that the disbanding ... doesn\’t cover the sports federations in which the soccer federation is included,\”

Jaafar said.

Basam Ridha al Husseini, an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, said the government would not reverse its decision and accused former committee members of corruption. He called FIFA\’s decision

\’wrong\’

as it is an internal issue.

Any suspension would destroy Iraq\’s dream of competing at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Iraq were due to play Australia in a qualifier in Brisbane on Sunday then again in Dubai next week and any cancellation would increase Australia\’s chances of making it through to the next stage of qualifying but the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) would lose about A$3 million ($2.88 million) in ticket sales and sponsorship.

The Iraq team were in Thailand preparing to leave for Australia when FIFA announced the decision. Iraq coach Adnan Hamad told Reuters in Bangkok \”The decision is a big shock for the players. They are depressed.\”

The Iraqi team provided their war-torn homeland with a rare moment of celebration in 2007 when they won the Asian Cup in one of sport\’s great modern fairytales.

\”They believe this team is the only thing that can bring the country together\” Hamad, a fan said.

via: Yahoo

Precision boasts a new range of backbar cabinets that combine ‘retro’ looks with the latest heavy-duty refrigeration technology. With features like heavy duty pull down latches and the brushed stainless steel finish, these cabinets deliver a new standard in cool quality, making it easier for designers to create style that extends even to bottle storage. Clever lighting can render a whole range of stunning effects, adding value to the ambience.

Precision refrigerators are not just cooling machines. They form an integral part of the overall design and aesthetics of the ambience, particularly in bars and restaurants. In effect, refrigeration turns as an art.

via Prweb

Ever imagined you can sport an hourglass on your wrist and make your own style statement? With Presto 2008 you can possibly make one. If modern watch designs don’t excite you, this refreshingly different and amazingly elegant Presto 2008 is sure to win your heart. Inspired by the shape of hourglass, designer Limor Yaron created this captivating watch for Nike. The stunning Presto 2008 captures the beauty of an hour glass in bright vibrant colors, making it extremely stimulating to read time. The best part is that the hourglass set in the watch actually works. You can see the minute granules on the top portion of the hourglass descend as time progresses. Exciting, isn’t it?

Via: Tuvie

Designed with a solid European Spruce frame, the seat of the GLOBO is fixed in a semi-sphere that lets you swing the chair, the way you want. The thick cushion lining that is given to the seat makes it just as comfortable as any sofa.

The spruce wood used comes from sustainable cultivated European woods and it is made weather-resistant by dip impregnation and galvanized fittings for years of use.

Available in cream, green or terracotta cushion, GLOBO also has a double seater. Great for couples, this highly comfortable double swing seat makes it ideal to relax in maximum snugness. This features a double-stem frame with a large hanging seat padded with one large cushion.

Just find the perfect spot in your garden for this amazing garden seat, tune into a soothing music and lose yourself in the comfort.

This product comes with a full 2 year guarantee and the pillow is made of 100% polycotton that is weatherproof and fireproof.

Via: cocktail.uk.com